Trump's FBI pick vows independence, says Russia probe no 'witch hunt'

Wray says no one in the Trump administration has asked for his loyalty and that he would not offer it, if asked. I also want to thank Senator Nunn for his kind introduction. "I view him as the consummate straight shooter".

"And nobody asked me for any kind of loyalty oath at any point during this process and I sure as heck didn't offer one".

He also is pledging his loyalty to the Constitution and to the rule of law.

"I think Russian Federation is a foreign nation we have to deal with very warily", Wray said, while acknowledging that "in some situations", they are our adversary.

President Trump's pick to head the FBI said he disagreed with the President on whether the investigation into possible collusion between his team and Russian Federation is a "witch hunt", one of many comments where he promised his independence from the administration if confirmed.

Trump thinks Comey was a "nut job;" Wray doesn't: "In all my dealing with Jim Comey, he was a terrific lawyer, a dedicated public servant and a wonderful colleague".

Formerly an assistant attorney general under President George W. Bush, Wray now works as a lawyer in private practice. Wray comes to the hearing with significant bipartisan support; former Senator Sam Nunn, a Democrat, will formally introduce him to the Judiciary Committee. Wray already has signed an ethics agreement with the Justice Department.

The revelations, which followed Donald Jr.'s decision to publish emails related to the meeting following inquiries and reports about it in the New York Times, conflicted with previous administration statements that campaign officials didn't meet with Russian officials and raised fresh questions about whether any Trump associates colluded with Moscow. I consider the Director's most important duty to ensure that nothing distracts the selfless patriots at the Federal Bureau of Investigation from their mission. "There certainly shouldn't be any discussion between one-on-one discussions between the FBI director and any president about how to conduct particular investigations or cases".

Additionally, Wray listed three "confidential clients" whose "names can not be disclosed because they are subject to non-public investigations".

Said Richter, who worked closely with Wray during that time: "Chris Wray believes that torture, including waterboarding, is wrong, ineffective, and illegal".

Wray's supporters repeatedly refer to his temperament as one of his best attributes, calling him a razor-sharp but low-key manager who looks to defuse tense situations, not escalate them. Prior to Wray's nomination, Trump considered a number of candidates for the director position, among them McCabe, Sen.